Latest news with #Hajiji


Daily Express
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah well prepared for carbon market: Chief Minister
Published on: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 30, 2025 Text Size: Masidi, representing the Chief Minister, greeting Borneo Rhino Alliance Executive Director John Payne. Accompanying Masidi was KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific Chairman Tan Sri Majid Khan. Kota Kinabalu: The passing of the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 at the recent Sabah Legislative Assembly sitting has opened up opportunities for the State to attract investors, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'This legal foundation gives investors the certainty they need. But the bigger opportunity lies in Asean cooperation. To grow this space, we need a functioning regional carbon market. 'That means common standards, regulatory alignment and mutual recognition of credits across borders. A fragmented system will only delay investment. 'Sabah is ready to work with other Asean countries to push this agenda forward. Our forests are already doing their part. Now the frameworks must catch up,' he said at the Asean Sustainable Forestry Summit 2025 at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Tuesday. His speech was read by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. Hajiji said the Enactment creates the Sabah Climate Action Council, a Climate Fund, a State-level emissions inventory and a framework for benefit-sharing, particularly with indigenous communities. 'Carbon rights have been legally affirmed as belonging to the State Government. And carbon related activities from project approval to credit trading will now be governed by a clear and enforceable structure,' he said. The Chief Minister reiterated that Sabah is now a net sink jurisdiction – absorbing more carbon than it emits. 'We are among the rare few jurisdictions in the world to hold this status, and it is estimated that Sabah alone contributes approximately 36 per cent of Malaysia's total carbon sequestration. 'This is more than an environmental milestone. It is a strategic economic asset. In a carbon constrained world, it is a competitive advantage we cannot afford to lose,' he said. Hajiji said forestry is central to Sabah's economy, environment and future. 'Under the State Government's development plan, the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ), we have embedded sustainable forestry into our long-term growth strategy. 'In 2022, we introduced the Forest Plantation Development Action Plan, a 15-year blueprint to rehabilitate 400,000 hectares of degraded forest. This initiative is not just about replanting trees. It is about securing a reliable timber supply, generating green jobs and strengthening rural economies. 'Achieving the targets set out in this plan requires the continued commitment of Forest Management Unit (FMU) licence holders and working in close partnership with the Sabah Forestry Department,' he said. In this regard, Hajiji urged all FMU licence holders to fulfil their obligations while the Sabah Forestry Department strengthens its role in tracking progress and ensuring that implementation stays on course. "Once fully realised, the plan is projected to contribute more than RM11 billion to Sabah's GDP and create 40,000 jobs across the value chain,' he said. He also said timber remained a strategic sector for Sabah, with timber royalties rising to RM171 million in 2024, marking an increase of RM16 million from the previous year. 'Export volumes have also grown steadily, especially to Japan, the United States and Taiwan. Our target is clear: to reduce dependence on natural forests and scale up plantation based, sustainable timber production,' he said. At the same time, he noted that Sabah, as the largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO) in Malaysia, contributing over 25 per cent of the national output, is also advancing its leadership in the palm oil industry. 'In 2024, Malaysia's CPO production reached 19.3 million tonnes, which is the highest in six years, and global demand remains strong. We are leveraging this advantage to attract investments in downstream processing, biofuels and palm-based innovation. "Facilities such as the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster in Lahad Datu and the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park have positioned Sabah as a hub for value-added manufacturing and biomass development, making them the engines of transformation," he said. The Chief Minister said forestry and climate are now at the core of economic strategy for Sabah, for Malaysia and Asean. "This Summit reflects that shift. We are no longer treating sustainability as optional. It is part of how we create jobs, attract investment and strengthen resilience,' he said. In a nutshell, the Chief Minister said with clear laws, strong institutions and the Hala Tuju SMJ roadmap to guide implementation, Sabah is well prepared for the carbon market. 'Our forests and communities are already doing the hard work of carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and sustainable use. But we cannot do this alone. 'We welcome those who bring capital, expertise and long-term partnerships from Asean and beyond. Invest in Sabah. You are investing in a State that is stable, strategic and serious about a green future,' he said. Jointly organised by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and the Asean Economic Club, the Summit brings together policymakers, business leaders and environmental experts from across Southeast Asia to address the urgent need for sustainable forestry and climate resilience. Caption: Masidi, representing the Chief Minister, greeting Borneo Rhino Alliance Executive Director John Payne. Accompanying Masidi was KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific Chairman Tan Sri Majid Khan. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Kinabalu Move' was about state govt posts, says Kunak rep
Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif said the formation of a new state government was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives prior to the failed Kinabalu Move in January 2023. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sabah assemblyman, who was formerly with Warisan, has claimed there was nothing altruistic about the 'Kinabalu Move' – an attempt led by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin to dislodge Hajiji Noor as chief minister. In a podcast, Norazlinah Arif recalled that Warisan assemblymen were summoned to attend a press conference at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu several days before the failed 'coup'. She said the assemblymen were told that Warisan would be part of a new state government, leaving them in shock, as the matter was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives. At the time, some assemblymen questioned why they should back Bung over Hajiji, Norazlinah said. The Kunak assemblyman claimed that they were then informed that if they backed the Bung-led coup, four or five Warisan leaders would be named to the state Cabinet. 'We knew the four who would be made ministers,' she said, without identifying them. 'That means the move to topple the government had nothing to do with the rakyat. It was about wanting government posts,' she said. Norazlinah, who quit the Shafie Apdal-led party in February 2023, also claimed there were plans for a second coup after the first one failed. In January 2023, Bung, the Sabah Umno chief, announced that the party was withdrawing its support for Hajiji. However, six Umno assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji, foiling Bung's plans which had the backing of Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. Pakatan Harapan and GRS assemblymen also pledged their undivided support for Hajiji, who has been in office since the state election in September 2020. Bung was subsequently dropped as the state's deputy chief minister. Earlier this month, Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan suggested that Sabah BN's pullout from the state government was a needless mistake.


Borneo Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Enactment opens up investment opportunities in carbon market
Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun presenting the Asean Distinguished Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award to WSG Properties Sdn Bhd Managing Director Datuk Susan Wong in conjunction with the ASEAN Sustainable Forestry Summit on Tuesday. KOTA KINABALU (July 29): The passing of the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 at the recent Sabah State Assembly sitting has opened up opportunities for Sabah to attract investors, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor. 'This legal foundation gives investors the certainty they need. But the bigger opportunity lies in ASEAN cooperation. To grow this space, we need a functioning regional carbon market. 'That means common standards, regulatory alignment, and mutual recognition of credits across borders. A fragmented system will only delay investment. 'Sabah is ready to work with other ASEAN countries to push this agenda forward. Our forests are already doing their part. Now the frameworks must catch up,' he said at the ASEAN Sustainable Forestry Summit 2025 held at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort on Tuesday. Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun delivered his speech. Hajiji said the Enactment creates the Sabah Climate Action Council, a Climate Fund, a state-level emissions inventory, and a framework for benefit-sharing, particularly with indigenous communities. 'Carbon rights have been legally affirmed as belonging to the state government. And carbon-related activities from project approval to credit trading will now be governed by a clear and enforceable structure,' he said. The Chief Minister reiterated that Sabah is now a net sink jurisdiction – absorbing more carbon than it emits. 'We are among the rare few jurisdictions in the world to hold this status, and it is estimated that Sabah alone contributes approximately 36 per cent of Malaysia's total carbon sequestration. 'This is more than an environmental milestone. It is a strategic economic asset. In a carbon-constrained world, it is a competitive advantage we cannot afford to lose,' he said. Hajiji said forestry is central to Sabah's economy, environment, and future. 'Under the State Government's development plan, the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ), we have embedded sustainable forestry into our long-term growth strategy. 'In 2022, we introduced the Forest Plantation Development Action Plan, a 15-year blueprint to rehabilitate 400,000 hectares of degraded forest. This initiative is not just about replanting trees. It is about securing a reliable timber supply, generating green jobs and strengthening rural economies. 'Achieving the targets set out in this plan requires the continued commitment of Forest Management Unit (FMU) licence holders and working in close partnership with the Sabah Forestry Department,' he said. In this regard, Hajiji urged all FMU licence holders to fulfil their obligations while the Sabah Forestry Department strengthens its role in tracking progress and ensuring that implementation stays on course. Once fully realised, the plan is projected to contribute more than RM11 billion to Sabah's GDP and create 40,000 jobs across the value chain, he said. He also said timber remained a strategic sector for Sabah, with timber royalties rising to RM171 million in 2024, marking an increase of RM16 million from the previous year. 'Export volumes have also grown steadily, especially to Japan, the United States and Taiwan. Our target is clear: to reduce dependence on natural forests and scale up plantation-based, sustainable timber production,' he said. At the same time, he noted that Sabah, as the largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO) in Malaysia, contributing over 25 per cent of the national output, is also advancing its leadership in the palm oil industry. 'In 2024, Malaysia's CPO production reached 19.3 million tonnes, which is the highest in six years, and global demand remains strong. We are leveraging this advantage to attract investments in downstream processing, biofuels, and palm-based innovation. Facilities such as the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster in Lahad Datu and the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park have positioned Sabah as a hub for value-added manufacturing and biomass development, making them the engines of transformation, he said. 'Forestry and climate are now at the core of economic strategy for Sabah, for Malaysia and ASEAN. This Summit reflects that shift. We are no longer treating sustainability as optional. It is part of how we create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen resilience,' he said. In a nutshell, the Chief Minister stated that with clear laws, strong institutions, and the SMJ Roadmap to guide implementation, Sabah is well-prepared for the carbon market. 'Our forests and communities are already doing the hard work of carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and sustainable use. But we cannot do this alone. 'We welcome those who bring capital, expertise and long-term partnerships from ASEAN and beyond. Invest in Sabah. You are investing in a state that is stable, strategic and serious about a green future,' he said. Jointly organised by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and the ASEAN Economic Club, the Summit brings together policy makers, business leaders and environmental experts from across Southeast Asia to address the urgent need for sustainable forestry and climate resilience.


Daily Express
17 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Climate enactment opens doors to green investors in Sabah
Published on: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 29, 2025 Text Size: Masidi greeted by Borneo Rhino Alliance Executive Director John Payne. Accompanying Masidi was KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific Chairman Tan Sri Majid Khan. - Pic by CMD KOTA KINABALU: The newly-passed Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 has positioned Sabah to attract regional investment in the growing carbon market, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. In a speech delivered by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun at the Asean Sustainable Forestry Summit 2025, Hajiji said clear legislation gives investors confidence, while regional cooperation is key to long-term growth. He stressed the need for Asean to develop common standards, align regulations, and recognise carbon credits across borders to avoid fragmented systems that discourage investment. The Enactment also establishes the Sabah Climate Action Council, a Climate Fund, and an emissions inventory, while affirming carbon rights under state jurisdiction and introducing a clear structure for project approvals and trading. Hajiji said Sabah's forests now absorb more carbon than the state emits, contributing about 36 per cent of Malaysia's total carbon sequestration—an environmental achievement and economic asset. He also highlighted Sabah's Forest Plantation Development Action Plan, aimed at rehabilitating 400,000 hectares over 15 years and creating 40,000 jobs, with FMU licence holders urged to stay committed to the plan. Sabah is also leveraging its strengths in timber and palm oil to attract downstream investment, with Hajiji calling for long-term partnerships to build a resilient, green economy rooted in sustainable forestry and carbon governance. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah puts forestry, climate at heart of economic strategy
KOTA KINABALU: Forestry and climate are at the heart of Sabah's economic strategy, with sustainability viewed as key to creating jobs, driving growth, and attracting investment, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. "We are no longer treating sustainability as optional. It is part of how we create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen resilience. "Our forests and communities are already doing the hard work of carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and sustainable use. But we cannot do this alone. "We welcome those who bring capital, expertise and long-term partnerships from Asean and beyond," he said, adding Sabah is stable, strategic, and serious about a green future. Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun delivered Hajiji's speech at the Asean Sustainable Forestry Summit 2025 today. With clear laws, strong institutions, and the Sabah Maju Jaya Roadmap to guide implementation, the chief minister said that Sabah is well-prepared for the carbon market. The passing of the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 at the recent Sabah State Assembly sitting has opened up opportunities for Sabah to attract investors. "This legal foundation gives investors the certainty they need. But the bigger opportunity lies in Asean cooperation. "To grow in this space, we need a functioning regional carbon market. That means common standards, regulatory alignment, and mutual recognition of credits across borders. A fragmented system will only delay investment. "Sabah is ready to work with other Asean countries to push this agenda forward. Our forests are already doing their part. Now the frameworks must catch up," he said. As for forestry, Sabah has introduced a 15-year Forest Plantation Development Action Plan in 2022 to rehabilitate 400,000 hectares of degraded forest. The initiative is about securing a reliable timber supply, generating green jobs and strengthening rural economies. "Achieving the targets set out in this plan requires the continued commitment of Forest Management Unit (FMU) licence holders and working in close partnership with the Sabah Forestry Department," he said. In this regard, Hajiji urged all FMU licence holders to fulfil their obligations while the Sabah Forestry Department strengthens its role in tracking progress and ensuring that implementation stays on course. Once fully realised, the plan is projected to contribute more than RM11 billion to Sabah's GDP and create 40,000 jobs across the value chain, he said. Hajiji also said timber remained a strategic sector for Sabah, with timber royalties rising to RM171 million in 2024, marking an increase of RM16 million from the previous year. "Export volumes have also grown steadily, especially to Japan, the United States and Taiwan. Our target is clear: to reduce dependence on natural forests and scale up plantation-based, sustainable timber production," he said.